The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1887-06-11

been placed in the statement SO indus
triously circulated just previous to
April 5th (the day of the election) that
the sstown was. out of debt and had
nearly $500. 90 IN the treasury
In spite of the plain letter and spirit
of the law which we have quoted on the
subject, the Democrat persists in saying
that "the returning officer is. given au-
thority by section of Act 10l of 1882
to fix the polling Places" and gravely
asserts that the Governors letter to the
returning officer of st. Martin, In 1884,
Informing him that he had mo authority
to do any such thing. s.does not make
point in favor of the Interpretation con-
tended fOsin Well, when man insists
that black is aUhite, there does not seem
to be much use in arguing with him
but we would nevertheless ask the
Democrat if the Governors analysis of
the election law, in his message TO The
Legislature, in 1884, in which he dis
tinctly stated that "the police jury fixes
the polling places" /" oaght not to ssmake
a point"-a little, wee, point-in favor
of the Interpretation to which he holds
in 1882 At any rate, is it not the
very quintessence of absurdity to in
sist that the Governor should stultify
himself, renaaaiate Tie Interpretation at
least twice formally promulgated in
1884, and adopt contrary one in
1887, just to please his dear friends, a
few noisy areformers," who profess to
entertain different view.
The Democrat asks us if the holding
of the special election would have been
illegal, 1'if the returning officer or po-
lice jury. or both acting together, had
supplied these 90 or 80 voters with
polling place, or had these few voters
gone to neighboring box to vote, or
euen If they had not been able to Uote at
all Pr It seems to us the Democrat is
trihing. IF the laws which we have
taken the pains to quote, and which 1t
| were idle to recapitulate here, amount
to anything, an election held under
such circumstances. we answer, Would
be clearly illegal. But if all these laws
can be overriddeD, and 25 or 30, or lO
or Is, or even one or two voters can be
disfranchised, in order that that grand
and paramount consummation may be
reached, viz: that the patriotic Mr.. A.,
or the nnselfisll Mr. B. may have the
privilege of running few months SOON
er for the judgeship then, we answer,
| if these things can or should be done,
the election might be legal enongh-to
suitssome reformers But we must ex-
press our surprise that the Democrat,
which processes so much solicitnde for
the rights of the ssdear people" should
even hint at 1isfranchising anybody, i.e.,
depriving them of their dearest and
most important right
PERsoNAL.-We had a pleasant call
on last Thursday morning from Mr.. Linn
Tanner, who resides in Rapides parish,
and who is at present travelling through
our parish organizing Farmers Allian-
ces or Uniens. Mr.. Tanner sayS that
these organizations are not to make
| war upon the merchants, but their pur-
poses are to educate the farmers to closer
economy, and by united concert OF ac-
/ tion to secure better terms for advail-
ces and in the sale of their farm pro-
ducts until the credit system can be
abolished altogether. Next week we
will write an article formulating all the
purposes and workings of these Allan
ces or Unions as explained by Mr.. Tan
ner. Their objects are certainly praise
worthy and will rebound to the solid
benefit OF both our agricultural ana
lcommercial interests. Mr.. Tanner has
already organized two Alliances in our
parish within the past four days ana
win continue the good work. he re-
ports excellent crops throughout Ra-
/ Dides. AvoyeIles and st. Landry, ex-
cent where the hail storm destroyed the
crops about ten days ago from Cheney
Il vile Cd d line from Northwest to South
east reaching into Mississippi, being
about one mile and q half wide and
over one hundred long as far as heard
4 from.
Mr.. wv. wv. Duson, general manager
of Che Southwestern La. Land Company
and editor Of the Rayne Signal, gavt
our Office an appreciated call on las
Monday morning.
Messrs. Il. G. Cllacher6 and Martin
Caron Of Prud'homme City showed u
their pleasant faces on last Tuesday.
Judge Alex. Boarnaan Of the Unitcs
lsates District Court arrived il town os
! Tuesday last to hold . session OF tina
tribunal.
A. ii. Chacher6, al tho Old Banl
House, can furnish good lunch, or ]
sanare meal, Or comfortable lodging
living prices. Try him.
Lunch. lodgings and board At A. Il
sfxa zr zsx VII @ Z. The rrtfan5sNs